Boston's Best Holiday Light Displays
One of the most effective activities for getting into the holiday spirit is enjoying a good light show. The twinkling lights that adorn Boston brighten up the city in so many ways. There are lights virtually everywhere in the month of December, but some places have better displays than others. Whether it's because you can stroll through them or because they blink to the sound of popular Christmas music, these stand out as the most magical places to see holiday lights.
ZooLights
Stone Zoo
149 Pond St.
Stoneham, MA 02180
(617) 541-5466
www.zoonewengland.org
ZooLights is an extensive display put on by the folks at Stone Zoo. The tree-lined paths of the zoo transform into something straight out of the North Pole. Holiday décor like lighted candy canes and animated displays are scattered throughout the property. The man in the red suit himself will make appearances. During the evening, visitors can take up-close photos with Stone Zoo's real life reindeer. End the night with a ride on the carousel.
Related: Best Neighborhoods With Holiday Lights In The Boston Area
Rose Kennedy Greenway Winter Lights
Boston, MA
www.rosekennedygreenway.org
The Rose Kennedy Greenway extends from Dewey Square Park to North End Park. During the holiday season, these parks and the multiple other parks between them feature a variety of light displays. In the past, the parks' trees were the main focus, with lights dangling from more than a dozen of them along the way. There have also been "light blades" that visitors can change the color of, simply by sending a text message to a special number. Light orbs lower to the ground have also been part of the fun. Every year there are changes, so be sure to look out for what's new on the Greenway.
Blink! A Light & Sound Extravaganza
1 Faneuil Hall Square
Boston, MA 02109
(617) 635-3105
www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com
Blink! is one of the city's newest and most elaborate holiday light displays. It takes place at Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, where hundreds of thousands of lights glow through the season. Apart from one of the biggest Christmas trees in the city, the interesting part of this display is that it blinks to the sound of Holiday Pops music. Every half-hour during the evening, the lights put on their show for shoppers and carolers. The shows start at 4:30 p.m. every night, beginning on Nov. 22.
484 Commonwealth Ave.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 635-4500
www.cityofboston.org
The Commonwealth Avenue Mall is 32 acres of paths, trees and art along the eponymous avenue it adorns. When the holiday season comes around, these acres are adorned with tasteful, elegant lighting, making it one of the most beautiful local areas to take a stroll. Instead of the colorful lights so often seen during the holidays, the Commonwealth Avenue Mall features only uniform white lights. They make for great photo opportunities in the glowing tunnel they create along the promenade.
Related: Family Guide To The Best Holiday Lights And Displays In Boston
Downtown Crossing
Downtown Boston, MA
www.downtownboston.org
Downtown Crossing has a lot to offer during the holiday season. There is a holiday market with Santa visiting every day during its yearly run. There are also lights throughout the neighborhood at night, the most impressive of which adorn the Macy's Christmas tree. The tree lighting is typically accompanied by music and festivities, but visitors can see the tree lit up every night through Christmas.
Shelly Barclay is a professional freelance writer and amateur author. She writes on a variety of topics from food to mysteries. She loves to share the culture and rich history of her birthplace and home, Boston, with the rest of the world. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.